Have you ever hit send on an iMessage delete message situation and felt your stomach drop? A typo that changes the whole meaning, a voice-to-text gone wrong, a photo sent to the family group chat instead of your best friend, or a message fired off in anger you instantly regret? You’re definitely not alone. Every single day in 2025, millions of iPhone users around the world Google phrases like “iMessage delete message”, “how to delete text messages on iPhone for both sides”, and “when you delete an iMessage does it delete for the other person” because Apple’s rules are confusing at first.
The truth is Apple gives you two completely different tools:
- Regular delete → only removes the message from YOUR devices.
- Undo Send → actually deletes it for BOTH people (but only within 2 minutes).
In this detailed, easy-to-read 2025 guide (updated November 22, 2025), we’ll walk you through every single scenario, clear up the myths, show exact steps with screenshots in mind, and give you pro tips so you never panic again.
What Actually Happens When You Try to iMessage Delete Message
Let’s start with the biggest source of confusion.
| Action You Take | What Happens on Your iPhone | What the Other Person Sees |
| Regular Delete (trash icon) | Message gone from your phone, iPad, Mac | They still see the full message forever |
| Undo Send (within 2 minutes) | Message removed everywhere | They see “[Your Name] unsent a message” – original text hidden |
| Edit (within 2 minutes) | You fix typos up to 5 times | They see edited version + “Edited” label |
This is why so many people feel frustrated. If you’re coming from WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal, you expect “delete for everyone” to work anytime. Apple chose transparency over total erasure – once the 2-minute window closes, the message stays on the recipient’s phone forever1.
→ Need the fastest step-by-step for deleting from both sides?
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How to Unsend an iMessage in 2025 (Delete for Both Sides – The Magic Button)
This is the feature that saves lives. It has been available since iOS 16 and still works exactly the same in iOS 19 (November 2025).
Step-by-step (works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac):
- Send the message (blue bubble = iMessage).
- Immediately press and hold the message bubble you just sent.
- Tap Undo Send from the pop-up menu (it’s usually at the bottom).
- Watch the cool “poof” animation as the message disappears.
- Both sides now show “[Your Name] unsent a message2”.
Pro tips very few people know:
- The 2-minute timer starts the second the message is delivered (not when you tap send).
- If the other person is offline, the timer pauses until they come online and the message delivers.
- You can unsend photos, videos, voice messages, Animoji, and even Apple Cash requests.
- The other person gets a small grey note, so they know something was removed (Apple believes in honesty).
If you’re too late, there is still no official “iMessage delete message for everyone” button after 2 minutes – even in 20253.
How to Delete Messages Only From Your Side (Local Delete)
Perfect for freeing storage, hiding conversations from prying eyes, or just decluttering.
Delete a single message inside a chat:
- Open Messages → open the conversation.
- Long-press the bubble you want gone.
- Tap More → tick the circles on every message you want to remove.
- Tap the trash can → Delete Message.
Delete an entire conversation:
- From the main Messages screen, swipe left on the thread.
- Tap the red Delete button → confirm.
Where do deleted messages go?
Apple added a Recently Deleted folder in iOS 16 that keeps everything for 30–40 days (Apple quietly extended it in iOS 18).
To recover: Messages → Edit (top left) → Show Recently Deleted → select → Recover.
This is super helpful if you accidentally delete the wrong thread (happens more than you think!).
Does the Recipient Get a Notification When You Unsend or Delete?
- Regular delete → Zero notification. They never know.
- Undo Send → They see “[Name] unsent a message” in the chat. They know something was taken back, but they can’t read it.
- Edit message → They see the new version with a tiny “Edited” tag they can tap to see edit history.
That’s why many people search “imessage delete message notification” hoping for a silent delete-for-both option. It doesn’t exist – Apple prioritizes transparency.
iMessage Delete Message Across Multiple Apple Devices
If you have Messages in iCloud turned on (Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Messages = ON):
- Deleting or unsending on your iPhone instantly syncs to iPad and Mac.
- Recovering from Recently Deleted also syncs.
- But again – none of this affects the other person’s device.
Common Myths & Questions in 2025 – Busted
| Myth You Might Have Heard | Reality in 2025 |
| You can unsend after 5–15 minutes | False – still exactly 2 minutes |
| Turning on airplane mode stops the message and lets you delete | Doesn’t work – message queues and sends when online |
| Blocking the person removes old messages from their phone | No – only stops new messages |
| There are secret third-party apps that delete for both sides | 99 % are scams or will get your Apple ID banned |
| Green bubble (SMS) messages can be unsent | Impossible – Undo Send only works on blue iMessage |
Extra Tips to Save Yourself Future Panic
- Draft risky messages in the Notes app first, then copy-paste.
- Use the Edit feature instead of Undo Send for simple typos (also 2-minute window, up to 5 edits).
- Enable “Filter Unknown Senders” to reduce accidental replies.
- Turn on Low Power Mode? It doesn’t affect the 2-minute timer.
- Set Messages to auto-delete old threads: Settings → Messages → Keep Messages → 30 Days or 1 Year (saves gigabytes!).
- Use Focus modes or Do Not Disturb to stop yourself from replying when emotional.
→ Want to keep your online life private in other apps too?
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→ Need secure remote access on government or corporate devices?
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Frequently Asked Questions (Updated November 2025)
How to delete text messages on iPhone for both sides in 2025?
Only with Undo Send within 2 minutes of sending.
If you delete a text message does it delete it for the other person?
No – regular delete is local only.
Does iMessage delete messages for everyone after 2 minutes?
No, the time limit has not changed since iOS 16.
Can the other person recover an unsent message?
No – once unsent, it’s gone forever on both sides.
Will Undo Send work if the recipient is on an older iPhone?
They’ll still see the original message if they’re on iOS 15 or earlier.
Can you unsend iMessages sent as SMS (green bubbles)?
No – only blue iMessage bubbles support Undo Send and Edit.
Conclusion: Master iMessage Delete Message and Stay Calm
By now you fully understand how iMessage delete message works in late 2025. The key takeaway: act fast within the 2-minute window for true delete-for-both using Undo Send. After that, regular delete only cleans your own device – but that’s still incredibly useful for storage and privacy on your end.
Apple’s system isn’t perfect (many users wish for a 10 or 15-minute window), but knowing the exact rules removes the fear. You now have the power to fix almost any mistake and keep your conversations exactly how you want them.
Have you ever been saved by the Undo Send at the very last second? Or do you think Apple should give us more than 2 minutes? Drop your experience in the comments – we read every one!
References
- Reddit r/ios – Long-running thread still accurate in 2025](https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/11s9c21/in_imessage_does_deleting_a_m ↩︎
- Apple Support – Delete messages and attachments ↩︎
- Apple Support – Unsend and edit messages ↩︎